Na Hoa Malama

Founded in 1979, Hospice Hawaii has spent 38 years bringing hope, reducing fears and impacting lives. This year’s “sea-sational” Na Hoa Malama celebrated our Heroes and Community Leaders who made a difference in our islands.

2017 Hall of Heroes

Kirk Matthews

Kirk Matthews, a longtime news anchor and reporter, was known for his warm style of storytelling and reporting. Following a successful career in radio and television in Oregon, he moved to Hawaii after meeting his wife, Linda Coble. He was affectionately known as “Uncle Kirk,” a close friend and mentor who made everyone laugh with his witty remarks. After retiring in 2014, Kirk was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer.

Kirk dedicated his life to serving others, devoting countless hours of volunteer work for numerous charities and non-profit organizations. He was an advocate for public education, and spent much of his life volunteering at multiple local schools. He also spoke from the heart on issues concerning seniors, especially as a contributing author for Generations Magazine.

James “Jimmy” Borges

Jimmy Borges, Hawaii’s legendary jazz vocalist, was diagnosed with terminal lung and liver cancer in 2014, but never let his illness slow him down.

Boasting the well-deserved title of “Hawaii’s Frank Sinatra,” Jimmy began his music career at the age of 20, singing in San Francisco nightclubs. His career took him around the world and eventually led him back home to Waikiki, drawing the attention of celebrities from Tony Bennett to Frank Sinatra, while keeping jazz alive in Honolulu. In 2015, Jimmy released his first studio-produced album that won four awards at the 2016 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, including Entertainer of the Year. The “Jimmy Borges Endowed Scholarship in Vocal Music” was established at the University of Hawaii at Manoa for Jimmy to help Hawaii’s local talent pursue their dreams of making it to the big stage. He is a beloved part of Hawaii’s history, someone who used music to lift up those around him.

Irmgard Hormann

Irmgard Hormann was known for her kind heart and gentle spirit. After 40 years of service to the Hawaii State Library, Irmgard retired to become her mother’s caregiver, but her giving nature never left. She founded Hawaii Meals on Wheels in 1979, and throughout her life was recognized as a determined advocate for social services.

Irmgard helped Hawaii Meals on Wheels to grow from a six-client organization to one that serves more than 650 homebound clients with 400 volunteers on nearly 50 routes throughout Oahu. Her tireless work to better the community earned her the Oahu’s Outstanding Senior Female Volunteer of the Year award in 2010. In her free time, Irmgard enjoyed teaching Sunday school at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu, singing in the choir and serving people in need as a member of the Social Ministry Committee.

Grayson Gouveia

Grayson Gouveia, a student at Central Union Preschool, was a loving, kind, and playful boy. Shortly after his fifth birthday, Grayson was diagnosed with Glioblastoma, the most aggressive form of brain cancer and rarely found in children.

After learning of his illness, his family, friends and the broader community rallied around Grayson, providing support for his courageous battle with cancer. Grayson received encouragement from people around the world, through financial donations, loving messages and powerful prayers. He was a remarkably brave young boy who never once complained about his struggles. Throughout his life, Grayson embodied the same values that Hospice Hawaii holds dear.

Grayson’s final gift was to leave a legacy that his family will share in honor of their brave son. He remains an inspiration to his parents and the many people who were blessed to get to know him during his brief, but meaningful, life.

2017 Community Awardees

Community Supporter of the Year
Percy Ihara

Percy Ihara has dedicated his life and career to working with seniors and their families, starting as a mortgage professional to becoming the publisher/editor of Generations Magazine. Throughout his career, Ihara has assumed the responsibility of educating the public on “Aging in Place.”

As publisher/editor of Generations Magazine, Hawaii’s only print resource for seniors, Ihara hosts an annual Aging in Place workshop and a Generations Radio Show that provides seniors with resources to improve their quality of life. He also serves as the adviser to KITV’s “Aging Well” weekend series for seniors and their families.

Ihara shares Hospice Hawaii’s vision of creating a community in which excellence in end-of-life care is recognized through a trans-disciplinary approach to care. He is active in the community, serving as a board member of the Financial Planners Association, State Task Force on Fall Prevention, Hawaii Publishers Board, as the 2016 President of Hawaii Pacific Gerontological society, and a member of Kupuna Caucus and Kokua Council.

Healthcare Organization of the Year
Stat Medical, Inc.

Originally formed as a Durable Medical Equipment (DME) supply company in 1983, STAT Medical’s services have expanded to also cover acute and post-acute medical equipment distribution, and manufacturer representation for the state. STAT Medical serves as Hospice Hawaii’s primary vendor for medical equipment, playing a vital role in the lives of our patients and their families.

Locally owned and operated, STAT Medical was also one of the first companies in Hawaii to become nationally accredited by The Joint Commission. STAT carries a variety of quality hospital and homecare equipment including wheelchairs, oxygen therapy and hospital beds. To better serve their clients, STAT Medical has also increased their delivery and response times and is constantly searching for innovative ways to better care for our island community.

Healthcare Professional of the Year
Dr. Serena Lo

Dr. Serena Lo is a geriatric specialist at Kaiser Permanente and board certified in internal medicine and geriatrics. She was born and raised in Honolulu and her passion in geriatrics stemmed from her upbringing with her grandparents. She received her medical degree from the University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of Medicine and completed her internal medicine residency at the Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, Washington. She also completed her geriatric medicine fellowship at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Washington. Dr. Lo enjoys caring for her patients and listening to the stories of old Hawaii they share with her. She works very closely with Hospice Hawaii, to ensure that the patients she refers are provided with the same level of compassionate and exceptional end-of-life care. In her spare time, she teaches and mentors students interested in pursuing medical studies, and ensures she spends plenty of time with her family, gardening, cooking and traveling when she can.

“Hall of Heroes” Kirk Matthews

“Hall of Heroes” Jimmy Borges

“Hall of Heroes” Irmgard Hormann

“Hall of Heroes” Grayson Gouveia

Community Awardees

Mahalo To Our Sponsors

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